Ole Miss Safety Trey Washington being called on for leadership in the secondary

Ole Miss first year Safety Coach Wes Neighbors II didn’t beat around the bush with Junior Safety Trey Washington in an individual meeting near the end of spring training.

“Coach called on me to be a leader, to be more vocal, to help the younger players,” said Washington, who ran with the first team defense during spring along with fellow safeties Isheem Young and Ladarius Tennison/John Saunders, Jr. “Once I started doing it, I liked it – leading the younger guys in particular.”

He took the direction to heart and feels good about his efforts as a leader to this point.

“Being a leader is a good step in my development as a player and my development as a man,” Trey explained.

Washington had 23 tackles as a true freshman in 2021 while playing in all 13 games. He was apprehensive at first about the learning curve of a new defense under first year Defensive Coordinator Pete Golding.

That hesitation was quickly appeased.

“Spring went really smooth,” he stated. “Our coaches break everything down to its simplest form and they teach you in language that anyone can understand.”

Ole Miss safety Trey Washington

Coming out of spring, Trey believes the new defense is going to be beneficial.

He also thinks Ole Miss matches up well with the skills of the available personnel.

“The new defense gives everyone an opportunity to make plays. We create matchups that are beneficial to making plays,” he explained. “I am excited. I love the new defense.”

Trey has been working hard this summer on specific areas, physically and mentally.

“I’ve been working on being more explosive and quicker,” said Washington, who followed up his freshman campaign with 31 tackles a year ago in a backup role. “I’m also watching way more film than I ever have. I think that will allow me to play faster and I will be able to rely on my instincts more.”

What are Washington’s thoughts on the defense after spring training?

“I think we are underrated, but we are playing with house money,” he stated. “A lot of people think we can’t get it done, but we are going to prove to ourselves we can and prove to our doubters we can do the job.”

The Grove Collective is supporting Trey’s effort with an NIL contract. While it is special to him financially, there’s more to it than that.

“Obviously, it is a great relief to have the extra money, but what’s even more important to me is that it shows me people, Ole Miss people, believe in me,” he closed. “It’s really nice to have people believe in me, really nice, and I am thankful.”

Trey Washington is striving to expand his presence on the Rebel defense, hopefully as a starter.

In fact, his plan is to be one of the leaders of the pack.

Seeing what he accomplished his first two years on a safety-heavy roster, and what he accomplished in spring, expect nothing less.

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